Education:

1970-1974, Ph.D Astbury Dept. of Biophysics, University of Leeds, U.K

1965-1970, B.Sc Physics Dept., University of Athens, Greece

Research Interests:

The scientific research interests of our laboratory are focused in the fields of Structural Biology / Molecular Biophysics and Computational Biology / Bioinformatics. More specifically, we are dealing with:

Structural and self-assembly studies of silkmoth chorion peptide analogues as novel self-assembled polymers with amyloid properties. These studies may lead to the construction of novel biomaterials with extraordinary physical properties. We determined that silkmoth chorion is a natural, protective amyloid and we proposed, for the first time worldwide, the existence of natural, functional amyloids. Currently, we are also experimentally studying the role of a great variety of amyloidogenic (‘aggregation-prone’)-peptides, predicted by our AMYLPRED prediction algorithm, in several widespread and also rare pathological amyloidoses. We are particularly interested to ‘hack’ the amyloid code, if such a code exists.

Development of algorithms that predict the structure, function and interaction of proteins from sequence alone. These algorithms, frequently, have genome-wide applications. The knowledge expertise of our team, in combination with the sophisticated tools that we develop, enables us to build curated, expert, knowledge-based, relational protein and DNA biological databases. Recently, special emphasis is given to the development of methods and software for the prediction ofstructure, function and interactions oftransmembrane proteins and the development of relational/object oriented databases of transmembrane proteins. We have focused on the GPCRs - G-proteins - Effectors system and on the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Gram-negative bacteria, which are both of great pharmacological interest. Unique, worldwide, relational databases of GPCRs - G-protein - Effectors interactions and also a database of OMPs, developed by our team, are freely accessible through the Internet.

Structural and self-assembly studies of fibrous proteins, which form extracellular, proteinaceous structures of physiological importance like lepidopteran, dipteran and fish chorions. Model structures of silkmoth chorion proteins and their interactions have been proposed. Also, we are studying chitin-protein interactions for the formation of arthropod cuticle. We have recently proposed a model structure of cuticular proteins and we developed a universal, freely available through the Internet, cuticular protein relational databas

Studies of water soluble, globular protein structure, function and interactionswith small molecules, aiming at the determination of the mechanisms of molecular recognition at/or near atomic resolution. Model systems of study include: a) the interactions of the lectin concanavalin A (conA) with saccharides and hydrophobic molecules, b) the enzyme DHFR and its interactions with inhibitors, which act as antibacterial and anticancer agents.

Astbury Dept. of Biophysics, University of Leeds, U.K (research assistant)

Teaching Experience:

COURSES (UNDERGRADUATE level)

I am teaching a full (one semester) ‘BIOPHYSICS’ course to 3rd year Biology and Physics students, since 1977.

I am also teaching a full (one semester) ‘BIOINFORMATICS’ course to 3rd year Biology students, since 1986.

I was a visiting professor of a full (one semester) ‘BIOPHYSICS’ course, at the Department of Medicine of the University of Crete, Heraclion, Crete, for two consecutive years, 1984 and 1985.

COURSES (POSTGRADUATE level) I am participating (to various extents, ranging from 10-80%) in the teaching of the following courses of the MSc course ‘BIOINFORMATICS’, since 2003

BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

PRINCIPLES AND METHODS IN BIOINFORMATICS

COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF BIOMACROMOLECULAR SEQUENCES

COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURES

MOLECULAR RECOGNITION - MOLECULAR DISEASES - STRUCTURAL DRUG-DESIGN

METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH

SUPERVISION OF PhD, MSc and Undergraduate students I was the supervisor of eleven (11) PhD students, who completed their PhD’s and I am currently supervising four (4) students, carrying out their PhD’s.
I have supervised more than 25 MSc Diploma Theses and more than 150 Undergraduate Diploma Theses
I was also an external examiner to more than 20 PhD Theses

Representative of Greece to the edition of the “1994 Report on Protein Engineering R&D Programmes in Europe” of Å.C (E.U), after several meetings during the period 1993-1994, at Brussels.

Representative of Greece for the creation of the “pilot” programme “Coordination of Structural Biology in Europe: National, EC and Industry Joint Efforts” of Å.C (E.U), after several meetings during the period 1995-1997, at Brussels.

Reviewer of several grant proposals of G.S.R.T (General Secretariat of Research & Technology of Greece) and of Greek Universities.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES More than 50 abstracts and 20 talks in International Conferences and more than 180 abstracts in National Conferences. I was a member of the Organizing Committee of, at least, 8 International and National Conferences. More than 2000 citations to my publications and an h-index=28.